Putin invites Aliyev to discuss sensitive issues face to face
BISHKEK. Oct 12 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to speak face to face following negotiations between the two delegations in order to discuss the full range of issues facing the two countries, including some sensitive questions.
Putin and Aliyev are meeting in Kyrgyzstan, which they have traveled to for a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit that will be held on Friday. Delegations from the two countries are taking part in the talks.
At the start of the meeting, Putin mentioned that the two leaders had spoken on the phone recently and would focus on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Question number one is the situation surrounding Karabakh, but we also have a different agenda, and it's quite wide-ranging. I propose our conversation be organized as follows: perhaps we could start with the second part, so that [our] colleagues can speak their mind and talk. And then we'll be left alone to converse and talk over the entire range [of questions], including so-called sensitive issues," Putin said.
Aliyev accepted Putin's proposal. "It's very gratifying that you've found time for our meeting during your state visit to Kyrgyzstan. In fact, there are a lot of issues. I see your proposal as quite reasonable," he said.
Aliyev said the two presidents could discuss the bilateral agenda with their colleagues from the delegations, "especially considering that we have something to talk about."
"This year's results are impressive as concerns trade, industrial cooperation, cooperation in the transport sector, and a lot of new projects. And then we'll touch on regional matters and security issues," Aliyev said.
The Russian delegation taking part in the talks included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, presidential aide Yury Ushakov, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.
The Azerbaijani delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, presidential aide and foreign policy advisor Hikmet Hajiyev, Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, and Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov.